Automatic hog oiler



H. IHv STEFFENS AUTOMATIC HOG OILER Filed Nov. 7, 1945 acs InventorPatented Sept. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE AUTOMATIC HOG OILERHerman H. Steffens, Corder, Mo.

Application November 7, 1945, Serial No. 627,237

My present invention relates to improvements in hog oilers and has forits primary object to provide means whereby hogs may do their ownciling.

Another object of this invention is to provide an oiler which operatesto oil a hog when he stops to scratch himself beneath the oil container.

A further object of my invention is to provide a scratching pole forhogs that automatically causes the hog to be sprayed with oil.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved hog oiler,

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof, and

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

In the above drawings as well asin the specication to follow, the samecharacters of reference indicate the same parts throughout.

While one embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the abovereferred to drawings, it is tc be understood that they are merely forthe purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction maybe resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the inventionmay be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances whichmay arise, without in any way departing from the spirit and intention ofmy device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appendedclaims. And while I have stated the primary neld of utility of myinvention it remains obvious that it may be employed in any othercapacity wherein it may be found applicable.

My invention I0, consists of a suporting pole I I, the end I2, of whichis sunk in the ground in a hog lot (the post may be a fence sustainingpost) and upon the top I3, of the post is secured a shelf I4, of a sizeto support an oil container I5. A band I'B, secured to the lower end ofthe post has secured thereto annularly disposed upright strips I1, I8,etc., the upper ends I9, 20, 2|, etc. project far enough above the shelfto form arms for securely holding the tank I5 thereon. The portions 22,of said strips are nailed to the edge of the shelf I4.

The tank I5, is provided with a faucet 23, to which is secured a bracket25, to the outer end 26, of which is pivoted a lever member 21, having aright-angular end 28, to which is bolted the rightangular terminal 29,of a strap 30, the end 3l, of the vertical portion 32, of which isbolted to the upper end 33, of a scratching pole 34, the lower 2 Claims.(Cl. 119-157) end 35, of which is hinged to the projecting portion 36,of said band I6. The pole 34, inclines outwardly from its hinged end. Aleg 31, is secured at its upper end 38, to the table I4, and at itslower end 39, to the band I6.

Fixed to the upper part of the pole 34, is a rod 42, the end 4 I, ofwhich projects through a bore 42, in the leg 31, and between said legand the pole a spring 43, is coiled around said rod 40, whereby theupper end of the pole 34, and with it the member 3U, are normally heldoutwardly. However, when a hog leans against the pole to scratch itselfthe pole and its upper'adjunct will be pushed in causing the member 21,to actuate the valve stem 44, pushing the same into open the valve (notshown) of the faucet 23, and permitting oil to be sprayed upon the hogbelow. A yoke 45, through which the pole 34, extends is ,secured at 46,to the leg 31, whereby the pole is limited in its outer movement.

In order to control the extent to which the valve stem 44, may beoperated to regulate the amount of spray to be emitted when the pole I4,is pushed in, I provide an adjustable stud bolt 41, having a nut 48, onits outer end 49, and a nut 53, on its inner end 5I, which end isadapted to engage the outer surface 52, of the leg 31, and thereby limitthe in movement of the pole 34, thus a considerable, or a reduced, sprayof oil may be ejected upon the hogs each time the pole is actuated byone of them.

The container I5, is provided with an air-tight cap 53, for its iillingport in the top wall 54. A pump 55, is also provided in said top wherebyair i' may be pumped into the container to put the contents thereinunder pressure for a forced spray from the outlet of the faucet 31, whenand if such a spray is required, otherwise just a few drops of the oilwill fall upon the hog thereunder. The outer surface 56, of the pole 34,may be provided with serrations or prongs which will prove an invitationto the hogs (if they need one) to take a scratch thereon.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details and parts such ascome within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to, inactual practice, if desired.

Having now described my invention that which tank supported on the shelfand retained on the V shelf by the upper end portions of said uprights,said tank having an outlet port and valve controlling the now of liquidfrom the outlet port, a lever bar having upper and lower ends, a legsecured to the shelf and to the band, a hinge securing the lower end ofsaid lever bar toksaid leg, means operatively connecting the upper endof said lever bar to the valve for actuation of the u valve by the leverbar, a substantially U-shaped guide and stop bracket having a webportion and spaced leg portions, the leg portions of said bracket beingxed to said leg and disposed perpendicular to said leg with its webspaced from said leg, said lever bar being received between the legportions of said bracket for pivotal movement with the web portion ofsaid bracket limiting pivoted movement of the lever bar outwardly of thepole, the leg portions of said bracket also guiding the lever bar duringits pivotal movement, a rod having first and second end portions, thefirst end portion of said rod being secured to said lever bar adjacentthe upper end of said lever bar, said leg having an opening thereinslidably receiving 'i the second end portion of said rod, a coil springembracing said rod and biased between the levez` bar and said leg toyieldingly urge the lever bar against the web portion of said bracket,and means supported solely by said lever bar and disposed adjacent theupper end of said lever bar adapted to engage said leg during pivotalmovement of said lever bar toward said leg to limit pivotal movement ofsaid lever bar in one direction. i

2. A hog oiler comprising a support pole having upper and lower endportions, the lower end portion of said pole being driven into theground, a shelf secured to the upper end portion of said pole, a bandfixed to the pole and disposed adjacent the lower end portion of thepole, a plurality of circumferentially spaced uprights secured to theshelf and to the band, said uprights having upper end portions extendingabove the shelf, a tank supported on the shelf and retained on the shelfby the upper end portions of said uprights, said tank having an outletport and valve controlling the flow of liquid from the outlet port, alever bar having upper and lower ends, a leg secured t0 the shelf and tothe band, a hinge securing the lower end of said lever bar to said leg,means operatively connecting the upper end of said lever bar to thevalve for actuation of the valve by the lever bar, a substantiallyU-shaped guide and stop bracket having a web portion and spaced legportions, the leg portions of said bracket being i'lxed to said leg anddisposed perpendicular to said leg with its web spaced from said leg,said lever bar being received between the leg portions of said bracketfor pivotal movement with the web portion of said bracket limitingpivoted movement of the lever bar outwardly of the pole, the legportions of said bracket also guiding the lever bar during its pivotalmovement, a rod having first and second end portions, the first endportion of said rod being secured to said lever bar adjacent the upperend of said lever bar, said leg having an opening therein slidablyreceiving the second end portion of said rod, a coil spring embracingsaid rod and biased between the lever bar and said leg to yieldinglyurge the lever bar against the web portion of said bracket and a screwthreaded stop member mounted on the lever bar and constituting afastening means for securing said means on the lever bar.

HERMAN H. STEFFENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 876,458 Hollowell Jan. 14, 1908881,543 Cale Mar. 10, 1908 1,146,069 Hayne July 13, 1915 1,173,958Haines Feb. 29, 1916 1,197,119 Goetsche Sept. 5, 1916 1,208,985 KringsDec. 19, 1916 1,229,435 Flynn June 12, 1917 1,256,357 Nasser Feb. 12,1918 1,289,670 Conelly et al Dec. 3l, 1918 1,314,274 Larkin et al. Aug.26, 1919 1,327,088 Curttright Jan. 6, 1920 1,597,663 Anderson Aug. 31,1926 1,877,098 Washburn Sept. 13, 1932

